Director of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia took part in the “Human Rights in Quarantine” session, which was moderated by the Representative of the Russian Federation at the European Court of Human Rights - Deputy Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation Mikhail Galperin and Director General for Human Rights and the Rule of Law of the Council of Europe Christos Giakoumopoulos.

In connection with the spread of a new coronavirus infection the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia takes all necessary measures aimed to protect inmates and employees of the penal system.

The heads of the penitentiary services spoke primarily about the current situation in the world in regard to the spreading of the COVID-19 infection and about measures taken in correctional facilities and pre-trial detention centers to protect employees and detainees from this dangerous disease.

The information about a possibility of outbreak of pneumonia in pre-trial detention center ¹1 “Matrosskaya Tishina” published in several media is not consistent with the facts.

On this day, there have been no cases of acute respiratory viral infections and pneumonia among suspects, accused and convicted persons in pre-trial detention centers in Moscow.

In all the institutions of the territorial body, including the pre-trial detention center ¹1 “Matrosskaya Tishina”, there are sufficient medical personnel for both inpatient and outpatient care. A stock of medicines is available at the hospital and pharmacy of the institution. In addition, in connection with the conversion of institutions of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in Moscow to special conditions, it was decided to take Medicines from relatives of those arrested in agreement with the heads of branches of the MSCh-77 Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia.

On this day, 514 video terminals have been installed in correctional facilities for conducting telephone conversations of inmates with their relatives using video communication equipment. This service is in demand among convicts; they make more than 45 thousand video calls per year.

On March 30, 2020, the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia issued Decree No. 29 “On the introduction of additional sanitary and anti-epidemiological (preventive) measures aimed at preventing the occurrence and spread of new coronavirus infection (COVID-19)”.

Due to the continued spreading of new coronavirus infection and in accordance with the requirements of the article 48 of the Federal law of 15.07.1995 ¹ 103 “On the detention of suspects and accused of committing crimes” special conditions were introduced in pre-trial detention centers located in Moscow since 03/31/2020 and until further notice,

A number of instructions from the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia administration and the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia decisions on organizing a complex of sanitary and anti-epidemic measures were sent to the territorial bodies in order to prevent the occurrence and spread of the COVID-19 among the detainees and the staff of the penal system.

In order to prevent the spread of morbidity among suspects, accused and convicted, as well as employees of the penal system of the Russian Federation, the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia issued a Decree “On the introduction of additional sanitary and anti-epidemic (preventive) measures aimed at preventing the onset and spread of new coronavirus infection” (COVID-19)."

The delegation of the Federal Penal Service visited Poland from 17 – 19 of July 2013